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The songs in this collection are among the most commonly sung in the history of the United States. They present uniquely American musical blends, with roots in European and African traditions and branches that have sprouted countless regional and personal variants throughout the country. Collectively, these songs of work, fun, and love transcend social and ethnic boundaries, painting a broad picture of America during the 18th and 19th centuries when music making was, for many, an integral part of everyday life. Songs include Wabash Cannonball, Buffalo Gal, Oh Susanna!, Pick a Bale of Cotton, Down in the Valley, and many more. Click here for more information, audio previews, and ordering. $14.99 Download Wabash Cannonball FREE from eFolkMusic.com! |
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Matthew
Sabatella named "...Sabatella's best asset is easily his voice, urgent but unforced, sweetly melancholy in telling personal stories and powerfully evocative in rendering antiquated songs intimate again. It's a great gift, and Sabatella wields it with exceptional talent." |
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| mailing list |
| To keep informed of the latest performances, releases, and other news just email us with "add to mailing list" as the subject. |
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| media clips |
| “Led
by Sabatella's six-string guitar and his molasses baritone, the
band's big sound rolls from Luna's makeshift stage across a room
filled with tri-county patrons… Tonight's crowd is extra large,
lining up against the walls and squeezed three deep between cases
of beer and the cafe's ancient black refrigerator. Along with the
band, almost everyone is singing: ‘Heigh, ho, and away we
go; Digging up the gold on the Fran-cis-co!’” “Miraculously,
Hollywood-based folkie Matthew Sabatella has packaged a history
lesson in the guise of a strikingly good album and a nerdaliciously
compelling live show that tell the story of western expansion across
the American heartland through song… ‘It's the kind
of thing that will appeal to just about anybody,’ Sabatella
says of the songs on Ballad of America Volume 1, most of
which date back to the early 1800s. The crowd at the Bamboo Room
reflected that sentiment, as moms, grandmoms, longhairs, blue collars,
and a gaggle of wine-sipping, Virginia Slims-puffing ladies all
clapped along and sang like ornery lumberjacks to lines like ‘And
we'll range the wild woods over, and once more a-lumbering go!’” "This
particular afternoon, Sabatella and his close-knit combo —
Lynn Griffith on banjo and mandolin, Jack Stamates on fiddle, Sean
Edelson on mandolin, and Chris DeAngelis on stand-up bass, with
Sabatella on guitar and vocals — play to a tent filled nearly
to capacity, its 50 or so occupants clearly caught up in the familiar
strains of the music and, just possibly, a certain whiff of nostalgia." "...when
he bangs out chords on his chocolate-brown acoustic guitar and sings
deeply into the mike, his songs begin to soar." |
| live performances |
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live performances |
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Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band features Matthew Sabatella (vocals, acoustic guitar, banjo, mountain dulcimer), Jack Stamates (fiddle), Lynn Griffith (banjo, mandolin and vocals), Chris DeAngelis (bass fiddle and vocals), and Sean Edelson (mandolin and acoustic guitar). Check here for more information. |
| Tuesday,
May 13, 2008 Skiffle Night is a monthly celebration of many forms of American and British roots music including, but not limited to, traditional folk, bluegrass, blues, old-time, Dixieland, ragtime, Celtic, rockabilly, country, Cajun, and zydeco. It is organized and hosted by Henk Milne of The Three Jacks, Matthew Sabatella, and Chris DeAngelis of the 18 Wheelers, who also perform as part of an all-star skiffle line-up that includes Kevin Wells on drums and percussion. Expect different featured performers and genres from month to month. Mark your calendars for the second Tuesday of each month starting at 8:00PM. |
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| Saturday,
May 17, 2008 This bluegrass festival runs on Hollywood Beach from May 16-18. Featuring the Rambling String Band, Ricky Skaggs, and many more. Check listings at the festival for exact locations. |
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| Friday,
May 23, 2008 The
Rambling String Band return to their favorite place to play in
South Florida. Always a great time. |
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| Wednesday,
May 28, 2008 Can You Rock a Little Softer? is a monthly acoustic night hosted by Raffa and Rainer. This is going to be a rare chance to see and hear Matthew again as a singer/songwriter and not an interpreter of traditional songs. Also featured that night is Brother Lou. |
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Please visit the archives at MatthewSabatella.com for information on past performances. |
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| University of Florida Study: Children's Knowledge Gap of Folk Songs Threatens Heritage |
| Children in the United States aren't singing the songs of their heritage, an omission that puts the nation in jeopardy of losing a longstanding and rich part of its identity, a new University of Florida study suggests. Click here for the complete study. |
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